Chartboost announces the 7 teams coming to its pre-GDC boot camp
Looking to hothouse success
If you want to be a valuable company that offers services to mobile game developers, you have to get down and dirty with mobile game developers.
At least, that's the approach many outfits are now taking as they offer developer funds or partnerships that at first glance seem outside their area of specialism.
Chartboost is taking exactly this approach which its Chartboost University Boot Camp.
It's the opportunity for seven teams to relocate to San Francisco for the ten days prior to GDC, to suck up the heady atmosphere and get their games up-to-speed. Chartboost is even providing $6,000 to cover travel and snacks.
So who are these lucky developers...
1. Coconut Island StudiosAlthough the Chinese start up has previously released a game; One Tap Hero through Chillingo, it's keen to learn more about the western market, not least as it looks to complete new title Cat Battle.
This Australian duo have seven mini-games currently live, including Gun Fu, but are looking to release their first opus and create a full-time business.
Best-known for its innovative Climber Brothers title, Argentinian developer Esquilax is sending three engineers to the Boot Camp to up its game.
Thanks to the previous experience on console titles such as Clive Barker's Jericho and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, this Spanish studio is currently hard at work on the Unreal Engine-powered Project Overkill.
The three-piece Canadian outfit is working on its game Homeless (previously iBeg), which was successfully Kickstarted to $15,000. This will be its first GDC experience.
This two-man team from the UK is working on its debut game Leaf Rider, which should be ready for release just around GDC - good timing, guys.
Having already won a Nordic Indie award and an IMGA nomination, the Danish team comes to the US with all guns blazing. It's looking to convert several solid concepts into live products in the process.
